Influence of geography and environment on patterns of genetic differentiation in a widespread submerged macrophyte, Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L., Haloragaceae)

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2016 papers

Abstract

The effects of geographic and environmental variables on the pattern of genetic differentiation have been thoroughly studied, whereas empirical studies on aquatic plants are rare. We examined the spatial genetic differentiation of 58 Myriophyllum spicatum populations distributed throughout China with 12 microsatellite loci, and we analyzed its association with geographic distance, geographic barriers, and environmental dissimilarity using causal modeling and multiple matrix regression with randomization (MMRR) analysis. Two genetic clusters were identified, and their geographic distribution suggested mountain ranges as a barrier to gene flow. The causal modeling revealed that both climate and geographic barriers significantly influenced genetic divergence among M. spicatum populations and that climate had the highest regression coefficient according to the MMRR analysis. This study showed that geography and environment together played roles in shaping the genetic structure of M. spicatum and that the influence of environment was greater. Our findings emphasized the potential importance of the environment in producing population genetic differentiation in aquatic plants at a large geographic scale.

Related Papers

• → GENETIC STRUCTURE OF THE FROGSGEOCRINIA LUTEAANDGEOCRINIA ROSEAREFLECTS EXTREME POPULATION DIVERGENCE AND RANGE CHANGES, NOT DISPERSAL BARRIERS(1998)62 cited
• → Effect of barriers and distance on song, genetic, and morphological divergence in the highland endemic Timberline Wren (Thryorchilus browni, Troglodytidae)(2018)15 cited
• → Effects of dispersal barriers and geographic distance on the genetic structure of a narrowly distributed frog in a spatially structured landscape(2019)13 cited
• → Regional and local patterns of genetic variation and structure in yellow‐necked mice ‐ the roles of geographic distance, population abundance, and winter severity(2018)11 cited
• → Genetic Distance(2017)